HTMAA - Week 2: Computer-Controlled Cutting

Week 2 is about various kinds of computer-controlled cutting. The two we spent the week working on were laser cutting and vinyl cutting. For the assignment, I decided to create an abstract press-fit construction kit like Legos that uses, as its core component, a flexible 4-way joint.

This may not be the best end-state for a construction kit, but it is an interesting place to start. My intention is to use this as a starting point for the kit that will allow me to put it in front of people, see what they make, and most importantly, ask them what pieces they wish they had so I can evolve it based on people's needs.

I started by sketching out the joint by hand and then trying to model it in 2D with Antimony. Antimony would be ideal since it is capable of parametric design; important for adjusting things like the clearance and shape of the press-fit notches that all need to be the same size and mostly the same design (for instances chamfering). Parametric design would also help immensely with the design of the living hinges (also referred to as Lattice Hinges, Kerf Patterns, and Sninges?), which allow the flexibility of a stiff material like the heavy-duty cardboard that we are using. Unfortunately Antimony felt just shy of stable/reliable enough for me to reliably do work that would meet the deadline without a lot of time invested in troubleshooting and second-guessing whether it was a bug or a faulty understanding of how the tool worked, so I made a few sketches and discounted it as a tool for this week.

(Disclaimer: I actually really love Antimony and not using it was disappointing. Coming from a music production background, I love the graph/wiring mode of constructive geometry. I intend to keep developing my knowledge of the tool throughout the semester and hopefully it will become more of an efficient enough option.)

After surveying the options for OS/X (lacked license for Rhino, Grasshopper (the parametric plugin for Rhino) is only for Windows, Sketch and SolidWorks seemed to steep a learning curve for the time-frame) I settled on Adobe Illustrator CC 2014. It is not parametric in most ways (groups and symbols were recommended as the most feasible antidote to this) but I had some experience using it and doing some extra manual work was worth it in the short-term. It was a bit of a struggle, and there were some quirks, but ultimately this worked.

Illustrator Tips/Snags for Laser-Cut Designing

When exporting a PNG file for import into fabmodules.org, make sure the export is at 300dpi. Screen resolution (72dpi) will be far too hazy and diffuse for edge-detection algorithms to do a good job with and they will hate you and punish you.

Completed Flex Joint

Random Outlines from Illustrator > FabModules.org

Incomplete Cuts Due To Cardboard Bending

Interlocks

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HTMAA - Week 2: Computer-Controlled Cutting

Week 2 is about various kinds of computer-controlled cutting. The two we spent the week working on were laser cutting and vinyl cutting. For the assignment, I decided to create an abstract press-fit construction kit like Legos that uses, as its core component, a flexible 4-way joint.

This may not be the best end-state for a construction kit, but it is an interesting place to start. My intention is to use this as a starting point for the kit that will allow me to put it in front of people, see what they make, and most importantly, ask them what pieces they wish they had so I can evolve it based on people's needs.

I started by sketching out the joint by hand and then trying to model it in 2D with Antimony. Antimony would be ideal since it is capable of parametric design; important for adjusting things like the clearance and shape of the press-fit notches that all need to be the same size and mostly the same design (for instances chamfering). Parametric design would also help immensely with the design of the living hinges (also referred to as Lattice Hinges, Kerf Patterns, and Sninges?), which allow the flexibility of a stiff material like the heavy-duty cardboard that we are using. Unfortunately Antimony felt just shy of stable/reliable enough for me to reliably do work that would meet the deadline without a lot of time invested in troubleshooting and second-guessing whether it was a bug or a faulty understanding of how the tool worked, so I made a few sketches and discounted it as a tool for this week.

(Disclaimer: I actually really love Antimony and not using it was disappointing. Coming from a music production background, I love the graph/wiring mode of constructive geometry. I intend to keep developing my knowledge of the tool throughout the semester and hopefully it will become more of an efficient enough option.)

After surveying the options for OS/X (lacked license for Rhino, Grasshopper (the parametric plugin for Rhino) is only for Windows, Sketch and SolidWorks seemed to steep a learning curve for the time-frame) I settled on Adobe Illustrator CC 2014. It is not parametric in most ways (groups and symbols were recommended as the most feasible antidote to this) but I had some experience using it and doing some extra manual work was worth it in the short-term. It was a bit of a struggle, and there were some quirks, but ultimately this worked.

Illustrator Tips/Snags for Laser-Cut Designing

When exporting a PNG file for import into fabmodules.org, make sure the export is at 300dpi. Screen resolution (72dpi) will be far too hazy and diffuse for edge-detection algorithms to do a good job with and they will hate you and punish you.